Topic: VR

Virtual and augmented reality company Magic Leap is starting to ship its mixed reality headset, with the Creator Edition of the Magic Leap One initially being made available in a number of cities across the United States for $2,295.

The VirtualLink Consortium has launched a new "Alternate Mode" for USB Type-C designed to reduce the number of cables required for virtual reality headsets to function, one that could make it even easier for Mac owners to get started with VR, and get accelerated video for USB-C monitors.

Apple will make it easy for owners of the HTC Vive Pro to use their virtual reality headset with their Mac, with the company advising it has worked directly with HTC and Valve to add support for the peripheral to macOS Mojave.

If Apple is working on a VR or AR headset, it is certainly aware of the different technologies and concepts already used in the market, including the benefits and pitfalls that can be encountered. AppleInsider provides an overview of the current state of the two technologies, and what Apple needs to consider for creating its own headset design.

Facebook on Tuesday issued a surprise by announcing the immediate launch of its new Oculus Go standalone VR headset, which also boasts iPhone connectivity. AppleInsider got its hands on one of the first units, and offers a closer look.

The FaceBook-owned Oculus has started shipping the Go, a low-cost virtual reality headset that works without needing to be connected to a smartphone, Mac, or Windows PC, with the entry-level head-mounted display available to purchase in North America today.

Apple has considered ways to detect the eye movements of the wearer of a head-mounted display, such as the company's long-rumored augmented reality headset, one that uses a system of cameras and mirrors to work out the direction of the user's gaze while looking at virtual environments.

A new batch of Apple patent applications published on Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office shows Apple is still working on technology relating to virtual and augmented reality, with filings showing a multi-resolution system for creating VR content, headset concepts, and a 3D document editing system.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has published a pair of patent applications from Apple describing system of switching between selectively updating part of an LED display and the entire screen, one that is described in each application's abstract as being useful for virtual reality or augmented reality headsets.

Further signaling Apple's augmented reality plans, the company has joined LG and Valve in a $10 million investment into eMagin, a maker of "microdisplays" for both AR and VR technology. [Updated with denial by eMagin]

Occipital took to CES to show off its 3D scanning technology and how it can be used with iOS devices, including the Canvas app and Structure accessory that can quickly scan a room using an iPad, and the Bridge headset that turns an iPhone into a mixed reality device.

At the start of 2017, it was thought that Apple was falling behind other companies in developing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) related technologies in its products. By the end of the year, Apple has taken small steps towards establishing itself in the VR industry, but it has made great strides in the field of AR, with ARKit being the main driver for its progress.

Virtual and augmented reality company Magic Leap has taken the lid off the project that is has been working on for the last seven years, and has debuted the Magic Leap One Lightwear goggles and required wearable computer, with the set to ship at some point in 2018.

In addition to giving testers a first look at the new iMac Pro desktop, Apple also supplied them with an upcoming release of Final Cut Pro X, which will add support for an 8K-resolution timeline and 8K ProRes files.

Amazon on Monday announced Sumerian, a platform for developers wanting to make virtual reality, augmented reality, and other 3D apps, including ones compatible with Apple's ARKit framework used on iPhones and iPads.